Display device



June 6, 1967 A. F. SCHOENUNG DISPLAY DEVICE 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1965 Jun 6, 1967 A. F. SCHOENUNG DISPLAY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1965 United States Patent 3,323,242 DISPLAY DEVICE Alois F. Schocnung, Hinsdale, Ill., assignor to Rapid Mounting & Finishing Company, a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 427,280 10 Claims. (CI. 4067) This invention relates in general to display devices, and more particularly to devices for displaying two messages, which messages in the preferred embodiment are related to one another.

Those concerned with the merchandising field have recognized the long felt need for an effective means to display a commercial message or the like. Heretofore, it has been conventional to use posters or other pictorial displays, and it has also been known to use a series of such posters or pictorial displays. Prior art devices which have been used in the past to display a series of related messages have proven to be less than satisfactory, because of their initially high manufacturing cost, and the further cost of retaining the device in good operating order. Additionally, such devices have proven to be difficult to operate, and unreliable in service. Accordingly, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for displaying a series of messages which is simple in construction, eficient in operation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

An object of the invention is to provide a display device wherein display members are readily movable between two display positions for displaying related portions of a message at each of the positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device as set forth in the preceding paragraph with novel means connecting the display members, so that they can be quickly and easily moved between the display positions.

A further object of the invention is to associate motor driven means with one of the display members for effecting movement of each of the display members between the display positions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a display device as described above with parallel linkage means connecting each of the display members.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a compact, inexpensive enclosure for a display device as described above.

These and other objects of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description taken in connection with the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the display members being shown in a first display position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, with the display members in the second display position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, and showing the display members in the second display position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of motor driven means for moving the display members between display positions.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, the illustrated embodiment of the display device is shown to include a generally rectangular enclosure 10 which is preferably formed of an inexpensive material, such as cardboard or the like. Enclosure 10 includes a front wall 11 having a circular opening 12 disposed centrally thereof. Enclosure 10 further includes a rear wall 13 spaced from and generally parallel with front wall 11. Rear wall 13 includes a forwardly extending bottom wall 14, forwardly extending side walls 15 and 16, and a forwardly extending top wall 17, each of which includes an inwardly extending tab, such as that shown at 18 in FIG. 5 on bottom wall 14. The tabs 18 are adhesively or otherwise suitably secured to the front wall 11. Walls 11-17 cooperate to define a compartment 19 therewithin that is substantially rectangular in cross section.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of display members or segments 23-23 which are generally semicircular in plan view. The segments 20-23 are preferably formed of an inexpensive material, such as cardboard or the like, and each segment includes two sets of indicia. Means to be hereafter described are provided for moving the display segments between two display positions, and the first set of indicia are aligned with opening 12 in the first display position, while the second set of indicia are aligned with the opening 12 in the second display position. For purposes of illustration only, the first set of indicia in FIG. 1 is shown to comprise a clock face with the message Now Is The Time thereon, and the second set of indicia shown in FIG. 2 contains the mes sage Oil Change-Grease Job.

Enlarged tabs are provided at opposite ends of each of the display segments, and a pivot member 25 impales the tab on the left hand end of the top segment 20 and the tab at the upper end of left hand segment 23 to pivotally mount the segments 20 and 23 relative to one another. In a like fashion, a pivot member 26 impales the tab on the right hand end of top display segment 20 and the tab on the upper end of right hand display segment 22, while a pivot member 27 impales the lower tab on the right hand segment 26 and the right hand tab on the bottom segment 21, and a pivot member 28 .impales the lower tab on left hand segment 23 and the left hand tab on bottom segment 21. A pivot member 29, which is aligned with pivot members 25 and 26, connects the mid-portion of upper display segment 20 to the rear wall 13 of the enclosure 10. A pivot member 30 which is vertically aligned with pivot member 29, and which is disposed on a line connecting pivot members 27 and 28, pivotally connects the mid-portion of the bottom display segment 21 to the rear wall 13 of the enclosure 10.

The display segments 20-23 individually cooperate to define the links of a parallelogram linkage means, and because of the pivotal mounting of the top and bottom segments to the enclosure rear wall 13, the side segments 22 and 23 move generally vertically between the display positions shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. In the two display positions, the top and bottom display segments 20 and 21, and the side display segments 22 and 23 are positioned so as not to overlap one another, and the various segments are interleaved with respect to one another by having the left hand end of top segment 20 overlapping the upper end left hand segment 23, the upper end of right hand segment 22 overlapping the right hand end of upper segment 20, the right hand end of bottom segment 21 overlapping the lower end of right hand segrnent 22, and the lower end of left hand segment 23 overlapping the left hand end of lower segment 21. The display segments 20-23 are preferably formed of a relatively thin material, so as to be able to slide freely with respect to one another between the two display positions.

Means are provided for moving the display segments between the first and second display positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, and 2 and 4, respectively, and includes a transverse slot 33 in the enclosure rear wall 13 positioned below the pivot 30. A lever 32 is slidably mounted in slot 33, and includes an enlarged head 34 at the inner end thereof which prevents axial displacement of the lever 32 from the enclosure 10. The lower portion of the bottom display segment 21 is somewhat enlarged, and a cam member 35 is fixedly mounted adjacent the lower portion of the segment 21 centrally thereof. Cam member 35 includes three generally radially extending slots 3638; and the shank of lever 32 is disposed in slot 37 when the display device is in the first display position shown in FIG. 3, and is disposed in the slot 36 when the display device is in the second display position shown in FIG. 4.

Motor driven means 40 (FIG. 6) are provided for reciprocating lever 32, and include a motor 41 having a disc 42 coupled to the output shaft thereof. An eccentric pin 43 is provided on disc 42, and one end of a first link 44 is pivotally secured to pin 43. The other end of link 44 is pivotally secured to one end of second link 45 which is constrained for reciprocating movement by a fixed member 46. The other end of link 45 is pivotally secured to lever 32 for reciprocation thereof upon actuation of motor 41. Obviously, any equivalent means may be utilized to reciprocate the lever 32.

When it is desired to utilize the display, assuming the display segments are in the position of FIG. 3, the motor 41 is actuated and the lever 32 is moved to the left until the shank thereof enters the slot 38. Continued leftward movement of the lever 32 will cause the lower segment to pivot in a clockwise direction about pivot 30, and the shank of lever 32 will slide upwardly in slot 38. As lever 32 is moved further to the left to pivot the lower segment 21, the left hand segment 23 moves upwardly and the right hand segment moves downwardly to pivot the upper segment 20 in a clockwise direction about pivot 29. As the lower segment 21 passes over center, the shank of lever 32 will begin to move downwardly in slot 38, and when the shifting of the display segments to the position of FIG. 4 is completed, the shank of lever 32 will be disposed in slot 38. When the lever 32 begins to move to the right along slot 33, it will enter the slot 38 in the cam member 35 to pivot the lower display segment 21 in a counterclockwise direction and cause the other dis play segments to be moved into the position shown in FIG. 3. The display device will continue to move between the display positions as long as the motor 41 is actuated, and it will be understood that the display device can be stopped in the position of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, if desired.

The display segments 2023 cooperate to define a cartridge or cylinder which is readily removable from the enclosure 10, so that display can be easily changed when desired. Additionally, further sets of indicia may be provided on the opposite sides of segments 20-23, so that the display can be changed by merely reversing the segments. If sets of indicia are provided on both sides of the segments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that a two sided display may be created by merely providing a suitable opening in the enclosure rear wall 11. Additionally, it should be obvious that the display device is suitable for use in a horizontal, as well as a vertical position.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising: a support having an opening; a first display segment having two sets of indicia; means pivotally mounting said display segment on sard support for movement between a first position whereln the first set of indicia is aligned with said opening and a second position wherein the second set of indicia is ahgned with said opening; a second display segment having two sets of indicia, the first set of indicia on said second segment corresponding to the first set of indicia on the first segment, and the second set of indicia on the second segment corresponding to the second set of indicia on the first segment; and means mounting said second segment for movement in response to movement of said first segment to align the first set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said first position and to align the second set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said second position.

2. A display device comprising: a support having an opening; a first display segment having two sets of indicia; means pivotally mounting said display segment on said support for movement between a first position wherein the first set of indicia is aligned with said opening, and a second position wherein the second set of indicia is aligned with said opening; a second display segment having two sets of indicia, the first set of indicia on said second segment corresponding to the first set of indicia on the first segment, and the second set of indicia on the second segment corresponding to the second set of indicia on the first segment; means pivotally mounting said second segment on said support; parallel linkage means connecting said segments for move-ment of said second segment in response to movement of said first segment to align the first set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said first position and to align the second set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said second position.

3. A display device comprising: a support having. an opening; a first display segment having two sets of indicia; means pivotally mounting said display segment on said support for movement between a first position wherein the first set of indicia is aligned with said opening, and a second position wherein the second set of indicia is aligned with said opening; lever means slidably mounted on said support and engaging said segment to move the same between said first and second positions; a second display segment having two sets of indicia, the first set of indicia on said second segment corresponding to the first set of indicia on the first segment, and the second set of indicia on the second segment corresponding to the second set of indicia on the first segment; and means mounting said second segment for movement in response to movement of said first segment to align the first set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said first position and to align the second set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said second position.

4. A display device comprising: a support having an opening; a first display segment having two sets of indicia; means pivotally mounting said display segment on said support for movement between a first position wherein the first set of indicia is aligned with said opening, and a second position wherein the second set of indicia is aligned with said opening; lever means slidably mounted on said support and engaging said segment to move the same between said first and second positions; means for reciprocating said lever means; a second display segment having two sets of indicia, the first set of indicia on said second segment corresponding to the first set of indicia on the first segment, and the second set of indicia on the second segment corresponding to the second set of indicia on the first segment; means pivotally mounting said second segment on said support; parallel linkage means connecting said segments for movement of said second segment in response to movement of said first segment to align the first set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said first position and to align the second set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said second position.

5. A display device as defined in claim 4 wherein the means pivotally mounting said segments on said support are vertically aligned.

6. A display device as defined in claim 4 wherein said parallel linkage means is defined by third and fourth display segments, each having a first set of indicia corresponding to the first set of indicia on said first and second segments and movable into alignment with said opening when said first segment is moved into first position, and each having a second set of indicia corresponding to the second set of indicia on said first and second segments and movable into aligment with said opening when said first segment is moved into second position.

7. A display device as defined in claim 4 wherein said support includes a slot, a cam member is mounted on said first segment adjacent said slot, said lever means including a lever retained in said slot and movable therealong into engagement with said cam member to effect the movement of said first segment between said first and second positions.

8. A display device comprising: a support having an opening, and a transverse slot below said opening; a first display segment having two sets of indicia; means pivotally mounting said display segment on said support below said opening and above said slot for movement of said segment between a first position wherein the first set of indicia is aligned with said opening, and a second position wherein the second set of indicia is aligned with said opening; means movable along said slot for effecting movement of said segment between said first and second positions; a second display segment having two sets of indicia, the first set of indicia on said second segment corresponding to the first set of indicia on the first segment, and the second set of indicia on the second segment corresponding to the second set of indicia on the first segment; and means mounting said second segment for movement in response to movement of said first segment to align the first set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said first position and to align the second set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said second position.

9. A display device comprising: a support having an opening, and a transverse slot below said opening; a first display segment having two sets of indicia; means pivotally mounting said display segment on said support below said opening and above said slot for movement of said segment between a first position wherein the first set of indicia is aligned with said opening, and a second position wherein the second set of indicia is aligned with said opening; motor driven lever means slidably mounted on said support and engaging said segment to move the same between said first and second positions; a second display segment having two sets of indicia, the first set of indicia on said second segment corresponding to the first set of indicia on the first segment, and the second set of indicia on the second segment corresponding to the second set of indicia on the first segment; and means pivotally mounting said second segment on said support above said opening; means connecting said segments for movement of said second segment in response to movement of said first segment to align the first set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said first position and to align the second set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said second position.

10. A display device comprising: a rectangular enclosure having spaced front and rear walls, an opening in said front wall, a transverse slot in said rear wall below said opening; a first display segment having two sets of indicia; means pivotally mounting said display segment on said rear wall in said enclosure below said opening and above said slot for movement of said segment between a first position wherein the first set of indicia is aligned with said opening, and a second position wherein the second set of indicia is aligned with said opening; lever means slidably mounted in said slot and engaging said segment to move the same between said first and second positions; motor driven means for reciprocating said lever means; a second display segment having two sets of indicia, the first set of indicia on said second segment corresponding to the first set of indicia on the first segment, and the second set of indicia on the second segment corresponding to the second set of indicia on the first segment; and means pivotally mounting said second segment on said rear wall above said opening in said enclosure for movement of said second segment in response to movement of said first segment to align the first set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said first position and to align the second set of indicia on said second segment with said opening when said first segment is in said second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 505,943 10/1893 Fischer 612 al 61 X 1,026,531 5/1912 Spery 40 52 1,822,798 9/1931 Carroll 40-61 2,961,788 10/1960 Halperin 40-137 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,042,077 6/1953 France.

10,870 3/1900 Great Britain.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING: A SUPPORT HAVING AN OPENING; A FIRST DISPLAY SEGMENT HAVING TWO SETS OF INDICIA; MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID DISPLAY SEGMENT ON SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN THE FIRST SET OF INDICIA IS ALIGNED WITH SAID OPENING AND A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN THE SECOND SET OF INDICIA IS ALIGNED WITH SAID OPENING; A SECOND DISPLAY SEGMENT HAVING TWO SETS OF INDICIA, THE FIRST SET OF INDICIA ON SAID SECOND SEGMENT CORRESPONDING TO THE FIRST SET OF INDICIA ON THE FIRST SEGMENT, AND THE SECOND SET OF INDICIA ON THE SECOND SEGMENT CORRESPONDING TO THE SECOND SET OF INDICIA ON THE FIRST SEGMENT; AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID SECOND SEGMENT FOR MOVEMENT IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST SEGMENT TO ALIGN THE FIRST SET OF INDICIA ON SAID SECOND SEGMENT WITH SAID OPENING WHEN SAID FIRST SEGMENT IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION AND TO ALIGN THE SECOND SET OF INDICIA ON SAID SECOND SEGMENT WITH SAID OPENING WHEN SAID FIRST SEGMENT IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION. 